Adjusting device for fast venting and roller fine adjustment, especially for paper satining calenders



Feb. 20, 1968 MULLER ADJUSTING DEVICE EOE EAST VENTING AND ROLLER FINE ADJUSTMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR PAPER SATINING CALENDERS Filed April 13, 1966 flnited btates Patent @hice 3,369,483 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 9 Claims. (Cl. 10ft-47) The present invention relates to an adjusting device for fast spacing and fine roller adjustment especially for paper satining calenders. With paper satining calenders it is necessary when a paper web tears, to move the rollers away from each other as fast as possible in order to prevent the elastic rollers from being damaged by the folds which form when the paper tears.

Heretofore this pressure reversal was effected in the double-acting pressure cylinders arranged at the upper portion of the calenders so that the pressure which acts from below lifted the entire roller set by means of the lifting spindles connected to the pressure cylinders to such an extent that a gap of approximately from 3 to 5 millimeters prevailed between all rollers.

The heretofore known method has the considerable drawback that the lifting of the entire roller set can be effected only relatively slowly and may take up to ten seconds because the hydraulic system for the calenders or the buffer reserve of the hydraulic bottles is not sufficient to furnish the necessary quantity of fluid at the required pressure below the piston of the pressure cylinder piston means now acting as lifting cylinder piston means. It is well known that with large super-calenders t-he pressure required for the spacing of the roller set which may have a weight up to 50 tons exceeds by a multiple the weight of the working pressure which sometimes drops nearly to zero. Not only does the hydraulic system have to be shifted to the high pressure, but it is also necessary to start a pressure pump because at the start of the spacing of the rollers, the pressure and fluid reserve of the pressure bottles, which for lack of space cannot be made of any random size, is used up instantly. This post-pumping at high pressure is, therefore, the reason for the slow spacing movement of the roller set. A further drawback consists in that with heretofore known devices it is not possible to lift the rollers only very slightly when work stoppages are necessary due to an exchange of the rollers or for other reasons, or if it is necessary to pass through glued sections. During a stoppage or when passing through glued sections or folds, disadvantageous pressure markings form on the paper web and also on the elastic rollers. Therefore, heretofore it was indispensable to space the rollers by their maximum distance, to separate the paper webs and then to start again.

lt is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for quickly spacing and adjusting the rollers of a calender, which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

lt is another object of this invention to provide an arrangement as set forth above, which will make it possible to space the rollers quickly by a maximum distance from each other, as for instance in case' of a break in the paper web, or to space the rollers only slightly so that substantially no pressure will be exerted upon the paper web passing therebetween while the paper web will remain in engagement with the adjacent roller or rollers.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a side view of a paper satining calender.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a front view of the roller bearings of a calender side with the two lifting spindles for complete and for only slight spacing o-f the rollers.

The drawbacks outlined above in connection with heretofore known arrangements of the type involved have been overcome by the present invention by the fact that below the lowermost roller there is arranged a lifting cylinder piston system acting as roller spacer means while the lifting spindles or equivalent abutments for limiting the gap size during the roller spacing are fixedly arranged on the calender stand. The present invention is furthermore characterized in that for purposes of spacing the rollers from each other and to produce a pressure-less movement of the goods, separate hydraulic pulling cylinders are provided which are equipped with lifting spindles for small gap adjustment.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, FIG, l shows a paper satining calender which comprises a machine stand 1 shown in section in the lower portion of the drawing. The paper satining calender furthermore comprises a lower roller 2 of chilled iron, an upper roller 3 of chilled iron, the intermediate rollers 4 of chilled iron and the elastic rollers 5. In conformity with the present invention, the lowermost roller of chilled iron (king roller) is by means of its bearings 2 journalled in control levers 6 which are pivotally supported in the interior of the hollow calender stand by pivot means 8 and at the front side of the bearings merge with extensions 7. At the end of said extensions, there are arranged pivots 9 which pivotally connect the piston rods 10a of the spacer cylinder piston means 10 to said extensions 7. The said cylin der piston means 10, 10a are movably arranged in the lower portion of the stands. This arrangement with extended control levers has the advantage that the pressure cylinders can be reduced in size and can be easier assembled in the lower or foot sections of the calenders.

Inasmuch as the pressure is now furnished by the lifting cylinder piston means 10, 10a, the bearing housings 3' of the uppermost roller 3 are flxedly connected to the calender stand.

The lifting spindles 11 with their abutments 12 for limiting the complete roller spacing are firmly screwed to the front guiding surfaces 1a of the calender stands by means of blocks 13a in such a way that they extend through the center of the bearing means through the hollow supports of all roller bearings 3-5. In this connection, the abutments 12 formed by adjustable nuts rest against cast-on portions 14 within the bearing supporting means. Instead of a lifting spindle, it is also possible to employ adjustable abutments screwed onto the guiding rails on the stands for the bearing means 4', 5' supporting the rollers 4, 5 respectively.

For limiting the line adjustment of the rollers for a pressure-free passage of the goods, the present invention provides for a further lifting spindle 15 which is advantageously for purposes of the fine adjustment moved upwardly by means 0f a lifting cylinder 16 fixedly con# nected to the uppermost roller bearing 3. On the other hand, when it is desired to space the rollers quickly from each other, the said lifting spindle 15 is relieved in downward direction by venting the pressure fluid below the piston in cylinder 16. The lifting spindle 15 is according to the drawing guided on the outside adjacent the bearings and by means of adjusting nuts 13 engages forkshaped cast-on portions 17 on all of the roller bearings.

FIG. 2 indicates the spacing of the two spindles which spacing increases in downward direction. This spacing is indicated in millimeters and shows that the lowering of the rollers during a pressure-free passage of the goods is effected by small amounts which are to be selected so that while the paper web and the rollers still engage each other, no pressure whatsoever will be exerted by the rollers upon the paper.`

The roller spacing cylinder and the lifting spindle cylinder 16 are adapted to be supplied with pressure fluid through conduits 21 while the control is effected by means of remote controlled electromagnetic three-way valves 19 and 20. When shifting the valves, the path through discharge conduits 22 is opened so that the pistons will move downwardly. The discharge conduits 22 of the roller lifting cylinders 10 are so dimensioned as to their cross sections that during the lowering of the pressure piston a light buffer effect will occur. In addition thereto, the roller legs may be equipped with rubber buffers 23 for cushioning the lower roller bearing 2'.

Summarizing the main features of the calendar described, it is to be notedy that the wide spacing control spindle 11 with the adjustable abutments 12 thereon is stationary while the abutments 12 are so adjusted that their distance from `the respective adjacent bearing means 4', 5 arranged thereabove progressively increases in the downward direction of said spindle 11 when the lower` most roller 2 has been tilted upwardly so that all rollers are in pressing engagement with `their respective adjacent rollers. `The adjustment of the various abutment 12 is such that when the lowermost roller 2 is located in its lowermost position in conformity with the lower end kof the downstroke of the piston in cylinder 10, all of the rollers 4 and 5 will rest on the respective adjacent abutment 12 with the result that adjacent rollers are spaced from each other by a maximum desired distance.

Control spindle 15 which controls the slight contact or substantially pressure-free condition of the calender rollers and is provided with adjustable abutments 13, 18 is' vertically movable and is connected to uid operable piston 16a. When the uppermostabutment 18 engages the cylinder 16, it prevents any further upward movement of spindle 15. In this position, the abutments 13 are in downward direction of spindle 15 progressively increasingly spaced from the respective adjacent fork-shaped protrusions 17. This spacing is so selected that when the bearing means 4', 5' are completely free to move downwardly, they will move downwardly to rest on said abutments 13. Since, as will be noticed from FIG. 2, the spacings between protrusions 17 and the adjacent abutments 13 on spindle 15 are considerably less than the spacings between the bearing means 4', 5' and the adjacent abutments 12 when the calender is in the position shown in the drawings, i.e. its operative position, it will be `evident that by venting the pressure below the piston in cylinder 10 and tilting of roller 2 downwardly, rollers 4 and 5 will move downwardly until the fork-shaped extensions 17 rest on the abutments 13. In other words, the downward movement of the rollers is just sufficient to relieve the pressure thereon.

It will also be evident that when simultaneously venting the pressure -below the piston 16a in cylinder 16 and below the piston in cylinder 10, spindlelS will move downwardly until the abutment 18 hits the adjacent forkshaped portion 17, i.e. by a distance greater than the downward tilting movement of the roller 2 so that the bearing means 4', 5' can freely move downwardly on the stationary spindle 11 until they abut the respective adjacent abutments 12. In other words, the rollers 4, 5 will now be spaced from each other to the desired maximum extent.

The control operations during a fast spacing of the rollers from each other is effected in the following manner. A magnetic contact released manually or by a photoelectric scanning device will through the aid of an electric circuit presently to be described shift all magnetic valves 19 and 20 to their discharge positions. As a result thereof, an extremely fast lowering of the entire set of rollers is effected while in view of the dropping of spindle 15, the lowering movement is not limited. More specifically, when the scanning device 25 realizes a disresult thereof both valves shift into their discharge positions, and cylinders 10 and 16 are exhausted whereby the abutments 12 and 13 and consequently all of the rollers are lowered at a high speed. If, on the other hand, it is desired to shift the calender into its position for permitting the goods to pass through in a pressure-less manner. While the device is in the position shown in FIG. l, it is merely necessary to open manual switch 26 to thereby break the energizing circuit for solenoid S1, but not for solenoid S2, so that only valve 19 is placed into its exhaust position, and the rollers can move downwardly only to such an extent as the abutment 13 permit. In other words, inasmuch as the lifting spindle 15 for the fine adjustment remains in its uppermost position which is adjustable by adjusting nuts 18, the rollers will be lowered only by a minimum amount required for the passage of the goods in a pressure-less way.

lf desired,` the arrangement according to the invention may also be used for othervcalenders, as for instance textile calenders.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular arrangement described above but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, if desired, t-he lifter spindle 15 for the fine adjustment may also be moved to its end position by a mechanical-electric drive.

What I claim is:

1. A paper satining calender which comprises: frame means, substantially vertical guiding means supported by said frame means, a plurality of bearing means superimposed in vertically spaced relationship to each other and vertically movable on said guiding means, a plurality of first abutment means supported by said frame means and arranged in vertically spaced relationship to each other for limiting the downward movement of said superimposed bearing means on said guiding means, rollermeans respectively supported by said superimposed bearing means, first additional bearing means arranged above the uppermost one of said superimposed bearing means and stationarily arranged with regard to said frame means, first additional roller 4means rotatably supported by said rst additional bearing means and adapted selectively to be engaged and disengaged by the uppermost one of the roller means supported by said superimposed bearing means, second additional bearing means arranged below the lowermost one of said superimposed bearing means and movable relative to said lframe means, second` addi-- tional roller means `rotatably supported by said second additional bearing means and adapted selectively to be moved from a position out of engagement with the lowermost one of the roller means supported by said superimposed bearing means into engagement with said lowermost one of said roller means for causing all of saidroller means to engage the respective adjacent roller means, first pressure fluid operable means operatively connected to said second additional bearing means and operable selectively to move the same and thereby said second additional roller means downwardly and upwardly, substantially vertical spindle means axially movable relative to -said superimposed bearing means, second pressure fluid operable means operatively connected to said spindel means for selectively moving the same into and holding the same in a rst and second position, and a plurality of second abutment means arranged on said spindle means in vertically spaced relationship to each other and also operable to limit the downward movement of said superimposed bearing means, the spacing between said first abutment means and the spacing between said.

second abutment means increasing progressively in the downward direction but the spacing between said second abutment means being less than the spacing between corresponding tirst abutment means.

2. A calender according to claim 1, which includes stationary spindle means stationarily supported by said frame means and carrying said first abutment means.

3. A calender according to claim 1, which includes stationarily supported stop means supported by said frame means, and adjustable abutment means connected to said movable spindle means for engagement with said sta' tionarily supported stop means in the uppermost desired position of said movable spindle means.

4. A calender according to claim 1, which includes lever means pivotally connected to said frame means and supporting said second additional bearing means.

5. A calender according to claim 4, in which said lever means has one end portion remote from the pivotal connection of said lever means with said frame means protrude beyond said second additional roller means, and in which said first pressure fluid operable means includes a movable member pivotally connected to said protruding lever end portion.

6. A calender according to claim 1, in which said tirst and second pressure fluid operable means are provided with tluid discharge means including means for exerting a buffer effect during the lowering of the roller means supported by said superimposed bearing means.

7. A calender according to claim 1, which includes automatic control valve means respectively associated with said rst and second pressure iluid operable means and adapted to vent the same for nearly instantaneously spacing the respective adjacent roller means from each other by a desired maximum distance.

8. A calender according to claim 7, in Which said control valve means are electrically controlled in response to a tear in the paper web passing through said calender.

9. A calender according to claim 1, which includes manually operable control means associated with said irst pressure liuid operable means for selectively venting the same to thereby relieve pressure from roller means engaging each other while holding said last mentioned roller means in closely spaced relationship to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 957,812 5/1910 Stuart.

2,058,352 10/1936 Putnam et a1. 100-162 X 2,300,994 11/1942 Thiele et al. 10G-163 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,054,953 4/ 1959 Germany.

LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PAPER SATINING CALENDER WHICH COMPRISES: FRAME MEANS, SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL GUIDING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME MEANS, A PLURALITY OF BEARING MEANS SUPERIMPOSED IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER AND VERTICALLY MOVABLE ON SAID GUIDING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF FIRST ABUTMENT MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME MEANS AND ARRANGED IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER FOR LIMITING THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPERIMPOSED BEARING MEANS ON SAID GUIDING MEANS, ROLLER MEANS RESPECTIVELY SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPERIMPOSED BEARING MEANS, FIRST ADDITIONAL BEARING MEANS ARRANGED ABOVE THE UPPERMOST ONE OF SAID SUPERIMPOSED BEARING MEANS AND STATIONARILY ARRANGED WITH REGARD TO SAID FRAME MEANS, FIRST ADDITIONAL ROLLER MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FIRST ADDITIONAL BEARING MEANS AND ADPATED SELECTIVELY TO BE ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED BY THE UPPERMOST ONE OF THE ROLLER MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPERIMPOSED BEARING MEANS, SECOND ADDITIONAL BEARINGS MEANS ARRANGED BELOW THE LOWERMOST ONE OF SAID SUPERIMPOSED BEARING MEANS AND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME MEANS, SECOND ADDITIONAL ROLLER MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SECOND ADDITIONAL BEARING MEANS AND ADAPTED SELECTIVELY TO BE MOVED FROM A POSITION OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOWERMOST ONE OF THE ROLLER MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPERIMPOSED BEARING MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOWERMOST ONE OF SAID ROLLER MEANS FOR CAUSING ALL OF SAID ROLLER MEANS TO ENGAGE THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT ROLLER MEANS, FIRST PRESSURE FLUID OPERABLE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND ADDITIONAL BEARING MEANS AND OPERABLE SELECTIVELY TO MOVE THE SAME AND THEREBY SAID SECOND ADDITIONAL ROLLER MEANS DOWNWARDLY AND UPWARDLY, SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SPINDLE MEANS AXIALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SUPERIMPOSED BEARING MEANS, SECOND PRESSURE FLUID OPERABLE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SPINDLE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING THE SAME INTO AND HOLDING THE SAME IN A FIRST AND SECOND POSITION, AND A PLURALITY OF SECOND ABUTMENT MEANS ARRANGED ON SAID SPINDLE MEANS IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER AND ALSO OPERABLE TO LIMIT THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPERIMPOSED BEARING MEANS, THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID FIRST ABUTMENT MEANS AND THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID SECOND ABUTMENT MEANS INCREASING PROGRESSIVELY IN THE DOWNWARD DIRECTION BUT THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID SECOND ABUTMENT MEANS BEING LESS THAN THE SPACING BETWEEN CORRESPONDING FIRST ABUTMENT MEANS. 